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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
inspiring
This is the memoir of Beryl Markham, the first woman to cross the Atlantic East-to-West in a non-stop solo flight, and the first pilot to ever do so departing from England. And she did it in 1936.
But she’s so much more than that. At 17 she was a horse trainer, building a business pretty much on her own and competing in races. At 13 she would escape her house to go hunting wild boar with the local tribesmen. At 6 or so, she survived a lion attack. On top of all that, she is a talented writer, being envied even by Ernest Hemingway, who confessed in a letter that he was “completely ashamed of myself as a writer” after reading her book.
Read the full review: https://larissaveloso.com/2024/10/09/...
But she’s so much more than that. At 17 she was a horse trainer, building a business pretty much on her own and competing in races. At 13 she would escape her house to go hunting wild boar with the local tribesmen. At 6 or so, she survived a lion attack. On top of all that, she is a talented writer, being envied even by Ernest Hemingway, who confessed in a letter that he was “completely ashamed of myself as a writer” after reading her book.
Read the full review: https://larissaveloso.com/2024/10/09/...
Beryl Markham, born in England but raised in Kenya, was a remarkable woman who lived in remarkable times. She tells her story in her memoir, West with the Night, although her biographical information suggests that she also leaves out a good bit (she never mentions a love interest, despite marrying three times). (https://www.thoughtco.com/beryl-markham-biography-4175279)
Markham–then Beryl Clutterbuck–moved to British East Africa with her parents as a young child. Her memoir never mentions her mother, but she expresses fond memories of her father, who moved to Peru after his farm’s failure when Markham was a young woman. She grew up skipping lessons in favor of going hunting with her Nandi Murani friends, who worked on her father’s farm. She learned Kiswahili and a few tribal languages, how to track and hunt wild animals, and how to react when stalked by a lion–a lesson that proved useful when a neighbor’s “tame” lion attacked her.
Young Beryl also learned how to tame and train horses. She became the first woman in Africa to earn her racehorse-trainer’s license, work that she loved and at which she excelled. A chance encounter with a stranded motorist, pilot Tom Black, eventually led her to her second career in aviation. She delivered goods, ferried passengers, and scouted for hunting parties. Eventually she became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west.
Beryl Markham’s memoir is beautifully written, full of poetic and nostalgic language. Parts of it read like love letters: to her childhood dog, Buller; to the African landscape; to the freedom of flying. She casually talks about delivering life-saving medication, finding and rescuing a downed pilot, and feeling frustrated that after making history with her solo transatlantic flight, mechanical problems caused her to land in Novia Scotia rather than the planned New York. It was a compelling read, perfect for those who enjoy literary writing or who are interested in learning more about an unconventional, adventurous woman.
Markham–then Beryl Clutterbuck–moved to British East Africa with her parents as a young child. Her memoir never mentions her mother, but she expresses fond memories of her father, who moved to Peru after his farm’s failure when Markham was a young woman. She grew up skipping lessons in favor of going hunting with her Nandi Murani friends, who worked on her father’s farm. She learned Kiswahili and a few tribal languages, how to track and hunt wild animals, and how to react when stalked by a lion–a lesson that proved useful when a neighbor’s “tame” lion attacked her.
Young Beryl also learned how to tame and train horses. She became the first woman in Africa to earn her racehorse-trainer’s license, work that she loved and at which she excelled. A chance encounter with a stranded motorist, pilot Tom Black, eventually led her to her second career in aviation. She delivered goods, ferried passengers, and scouted for hunting parties. Eventually she became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west.
Beryl Markham’s memoir is beautifully written, full of poetic and nostalgic language. Parts of it read like love letters: to her childhood dog, Buller; to the African landscape; to the freedom of flying. She casually talks about delivering life-saving medication, finding and rescuing a downed pilot, and feeling frustrated that after making history with her solo transatlantic flight, mechanical problems caused her to land in Novia Scotia rather than the planned New York. It was a compelling read, perfect for those who enjoy literary writing or who are interested in learning more about an unconventional, adventurous woman.
adventurous
medium-paced
The author was very descriptive in her writing and some portions had me intrigued (mainly the ones involving animals in the wild). However, I found myself drifting off a large portion of the time, and I didn't care enough to go back and listen to those portions again.
I read someone else's comments on this book saying it was written by a contemporary of Karen Blixen (Out of Africa) and that it touched on the same themes but with better writing. That turned out to be the understatement of the century. It's some of the best writing I've ever read and has quickly rocketed to one of my top/favorite books of all time. What a huge surprise this was. I was so heartbroken to finish this book, I wish I could drown in it just a few days longer. I will absolutely be re-reading this regularly over the years.
Captivating memoir of a strong woman. Beautifully written, fascinating stories, would recommend to all.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Amazing descriptions and use of language. Interesting insight into life for ex-pats in Africa befre World War II. Very much of its time, with casual racism and colonisation taken for granted.
I don’t read many autobiographies, but this one intrigued me when recommended by Linda Fraembs. I admit, I had trouble with the first half, trying to keep up with Beryl’s real-life characters and how they fit into her life. But by the book’s midpoint, the characters came together and I began to appreciate both her writing and storytelling. Beryl was born in England and moved to Africa early in life. She was a proven horse trainer, one of the first bush pilots, and she was the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from Britain to North America. Such an amazing life! The most interesting thing about this autobiography is it contains few details about Beryl. In fact, she never talks about her three marriages or her son…all of which I find odd. Aside from the last two chapters which focused on her non-stop flight, Beryl tells her story by telling you about the people around her. She was a fearless woman, and her autobiography brings that to life. I give it 3 of 5 stars.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced